Spring rolls are narrower and lighter than
egg rolls, and the wrapper is made without
egg. Photo courtesy SpringKitchen.com.

Chinese spring rolls and egg rolls are filled wrappers made from unraised dough, which is wrapped around mixtures of meat, seafood and vegetables and then deep fried.

Spring rolls are narrower with thinner dough, since the dough is made without the egg that gives egg rolls their name.

How did spring rolls get their name?

Originally, they were special snacks served to visitors with tea at the Chinese New Year, which is the beginning of lunar spring.

Both rolls date back to ancient China, and both are traditionally served with hot Chinese mustard or a dipping sauce.

Vietnamese spring rolls, or cha gio, have a different wrapper and are not fried (although some Vietnames restaurants are now serving Chinese-style spring rolls as well, since Americans have a penchant for fried food).

This is an easy and delicious recipe to make at home. Start by picking up some rice paper wrappers at an Asian market.

Vietnamese spring rolls are like eating a fresh salad roll, more complex in flavor (thanks to the fresh herbs) than fried Chinese rolls. They are served with a spicy dipping sauce known as nuoc cham.

Spring Roll Dipping Sauce Recipe

Ingredients

– 1/2 cup rice vinegar*
– 1/2 cup water
– 1/2 cup sugar
– 1/3 cup fish sauce (nam pla)
– 1 garlic clove minced
– 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice*
– 1 teaspoon dried crushed chilies

*Depending on your personal palate, you can reverse the quantities of rive vinegar and lime juice. One good-size lime will yield 1/2 cup of juice.

Preparation

1. Heat the vinegar, water and sugar until the sugar is dissolved.
2. Add fish sauce, garlic, lime juice and chilies.
3. Cool and serve or refrigerate.

Read more about fish sauce.

The Cocoa Room sells mixtures of egg-shaped chocolate-covered almonds, dried cherries, sunflower seeds and other favorites.

In addition to making your candy bowl look seasonal, it’s a great gift for people who don’t like big bites of chocolate (yes, such people exist!).

The mixes are sold in a variety of sizes, in clear boxes that are perfect for gift-giving. The small box makes a welcome party favor. Available at TheCocoaRoom.com.

Find more of our favorite Easter gifts.

Choose from different Easter mixes. Photo
courtesy TheCocoaRoom.com.

Start a Salmagundi Salad tradition. Photo
courtesy ParmaHam.com.

Celebrate spring with a Salmagundi Brunch.

“Salmagundi“ means a heterogeneous mixture or a mixed salad of various ingredients in addition to the greens. A Cobb Salad—avocado, bacon, blue cheese and chicken—is an example of salmagundi.

The word derives from the French salmigondis, “seasoned salted meats,” most likely from the Latin words salemine (salted food) and condir (to season).

Invite friends to a Spring Salmagundi Feast:

1. You provide a large salad bowl and salad greens, plus vinaigrette, artisan bread, butter and anything else you’d like to round out the menu (beverages, soup, dessert).

3. As guests arrive, arrange these ingredients in rows atop the greens, so everyone can see what the salad will consist of.

Red, white and rose wines, plus beer and artisan soft drinks (think Fizzy Lizzy, GuS and Steaz) will pair well with the salmagundi.

Find more salad ideas in our Vegetables Section.

Since 1865, artisans have been making Brie, Camembert and other cheeses at Marin French Cheese Company, in the rolling hills of Petaluma, California (north of San Francisco in Marin County and just south of Sonoma County).

In the old days, the cheeses were transported in a horse-drawn wagon to the town of Petaluma, where they were loaded onto a paddle wheeler and headed for the shipping port then known as Yerba Buena. The first cheese, a breakfast cheese, became a favorite with Yerba Buena dock workers.

These days, the company makes more than 30 different types of cheeses. We had the opportunity to taste the Brie and Camembert, made with Old World cultures. We were in buttery cheese heaven, enjoying the cheeses for breakfast, lunch, dinner and in-between. (Read the difference between Brie and Camembert).

We can’t wait to try the rest of the line, including the quark in blackberry, garlic, herb, jalapeño, plain, strawberry and triple onion!

Look for Rouge et Noir at fine grocers.
Photo by Evan Dempsey | THE NIBBLE.

Made from extra-rich Jersey cow’s milk, in 2005, Rouge et Noir’s Trple Creme Brie beat its French competitors in the annual World Cheese Awards in London, and took two other golds as well. Original Camembert was voted America’s best Camembert by the American Cheese Society in 2004 and 2006. There are many more medals in the company’s trophy case.

If you’re in the area, there are four tours daily. Call 1.800-292.6001 for information. Learn more at MarinFrenchCheese.com.

• Find more of our favorite cheeses in our Cheese Section, which is packed full of information about cheese. 

The woven ribbon, in lavender, green and purple, the color of spring. The box holds 11.3 ounces of milk and dark chocolates along with beautiful White Chocolate Raspberry and Lemon Truffle Eggs topped with icing flowers. And it will remind the recipient of spring long after the Easter candy is gone.

Buy the Ribbon Chocolate Box for $19.90 at See’s stores or online at Sees.com.

• Find more of our favorite Easter candies.
• Learn all about chocolate.

This Easter gift is a “keeper”: the ribbon box
remains after the chocolate is gone. Photo courtesy Sees.com.